Multi-disciplinary consulting, innovation and development organization working on advanced sustainability projects around the globe.

Jacob Verhaart

PhD

Head of Science; Industrial Ecologist

Oct 02, 2013

Areas of expertise:

Industrial Ecology & Sustainable building

Thermal comfort; Building installations and HVAC

Human technology interaction

Renewable energy

Mobility & Aircraft systems

Professional Titles:

PhD Building Science

MSc. Industrial Ecology

BSc. Aerospace Engineering

Enjoys:

Good food

Designing and building furniture

(vegetable) Gardening

Guilty Pleasures:

Loud music

Model airplanes

Contact

[javascript protected email address]

Jacob is Except's resident genius scientist. As an industrial ecologist, Jacob knows everything about energy and material flows, urban metabolism, impact and life cycle assessment, and the circular economy. As an engineer, Jacob has particular love for building systems and sustainable building practices. Jacob always always wants to know everything there is to know about a subject. When he was little, his favorite word was “why?”.

That condition never got better. He is fascinated by nature, architecture and technology. He would like to get to know as much as there is to know about sustainability and translate that into concrete solutions for improving the world.

Jacob has a humanist’s understanding of social policy coupled with an engineers’ appreciation of practicality. In the last four years he helped to increase the understanding of the interaction of office workers with their thermal environment, in his role as a researcher at the TU Eindhoven in the department of Building Physics and Services. Comfort through user involvement is essential to make buildings better and more sustainable. Technology is there to help people in making doing the right thing easier.

This practical side is also visible when Jacob designs and builds furniture. The best furniture is esthetically pleasing, is useful and makes life easier. Additional advantage is that woodworking and building is a relaxing activity, and therefore it’s no surprise that a large portion of Jacobs house is filled with his own creations.

Jacob has a PhD in building physics from Eindhoven University, a Master’s degree in Industrial Ecology from Delft and Leiden Universities, and a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering.

For ReGen Villages, we developed a globally unique masterplan for a self-sustaining housing neighborhood of 203 houses in the Netherlands. Designed on a 25 hectare site in an area called Oosterwold, just 20 minutes from Amsterdam, it exemplifies affordable, regenerative, and self sustaining living.